Mightier Than Any Sword: January 2012

Sunday, January 15, 2012

hello and goodbye.

well, people. it's time to move on.

this is the last post on mightier than any sword. i'm keeping the blog up but comments will be closed shortly.

please visit me at my brand new blog, the dreadful quaker.

In The Valley

My grandfather went down with the Montevideo
Rising sun sent him floating to his rest
And his wife fled south to Sydney
Seeking out safe harbour
A North Shore matron she became
With some paying guests

My father went down with the curse of big cities
Traffic tolls and deadlines
Took him to his peace
Now Bob Dyer glued us to our seats
And lawns were always Victa neat
While Menzies fawned at royal feet
I'm sure you remember
Do you remember?

In the valley I walk
Who will take me there?
In the valley I walk
Cold comfort, I can hear you talk
In the valley I walk
Who will take me there?

When my mother went down
It was a stiff arm from Hades
Life surprises and tears you
Like the southerly
She always welcomed the spring
She always welcomed the stranger
I don't see too many around like this
Not many like this

In the valley I walk
Who will take me there?
In the valley I walk
Cold comfort, I can hear you talk
In the valley I walk
I took some comfort there

In the valley I walk
Rough justice, I hear you talk
In the valley I walk
I meet my watershed

I hope virtue brings its own reward
And I hope the pen is mightier than any sword
I hope the kids will take it slow
I hope my country claims its own
Yes I do....

(Written by Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie and Peter Garrett and performed by Midnight Oil on their 1993 album Earth and Sun and Moon.)